A RESERVOIR caused mixed emotions from residents and councillors when it was unveiled to the public last week.

Some residents were pleased to have the green space back after two years' construction work, whilst others branded it a "shambles".

The new £6m reservoir, which will serve 100,000 residents in Woodley, Earley and South Reading, holds enough drinking water to fill five-and-a-half Olympic sized swimming pools.

It's been linked up to the neighbouring 1970's style reservoir in Elm Lane Park, Earley.

Heather Early, whose home in Pimento Drive lays close to the site, said she was upset with the construction from the beginning.

Mrs Earley said: "The view from down our end is just a shambles, it's awful.

"It looks like a wilderness.

"This has been going on for ages now and all the trees are dying."

However, Pam Tripp, of Lower Earley, said she was happy that Thames Water have handed the site back over to Wokingham Borough Council, so she could use the land to walk her dog.

She said: "It's great to have this space back, this is where I come to walk my dog.

"For me the level of disturbance was fine, you could hear the machinery but it didn't disturb me, and the children at Whiteknights school where I work were fascinated because they could see all the diggers."

Wokingham Borough and Earley Town Councillor David Chopping, said he was pleased to see the site being handed back over for residents to use.

Cllr Chopping also expressed his delight at the professionalism of the constructors over the past two years.

Cllr Chopping said: "I think they have been excellent, in the way they have discussed everything with residents.

"The care they have taken has been great and they have treated everybody the same rather than trying to treat some better than others."

Gareth Parry Thames Water's production manager said: “Reading is an ever-growing town so it’s vital we carefully plan our water resources for the future. Earley reservoir will help make sure there is enough to meet demand, especially during peak periods.

“As it’s so near to homes, we’ve done all we can to put the area back to how it was before we started, and we’re really pleased with the result. Once everything grows we’re confident those who use the park won’t even know they’re walking across the top of a container holding millions of litres of drinking water.”